________________
280
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[NOVEMBER, 1909.
Or with the help of nobles and princes of the king's family, the minister may have the heirapparent installed and shew him to the public.
Or having, as pointed out in the chapter!l concerning the awards of punishments, removed the throne of the kingdom, be may conduct the administration.
Or if a chief among the neighbouring kings seems to give trouble, the minister may invite him, saying "come here and I shall make thee king," and then put him to death; or he may be kept at bay by taking such measures as cau ward off dangers.
Or having gradually placed the burden of administration on the shoulders of the heir-apparent, the minister may announce the death of the king to the public.
In case of the king's demise in an enemy's land, the minister, having brought about an agreement between the enemy and a friend pretending to be an enemy of the dead king, may withdraw himself; or having installed in the king's fort any one of the neighbouring kings, he may withdraw himself; or having installed the heir-apparent, he may set the army against the enemy; and when attacked by the enemy, he may take, as detailed elsewhere, such measures as can ward off dangers.
Thus," says Kautilya, 12 " the minister shall invest hinself with the powers of sovereignty."
Not so," says Bhậradvaja ; " The king lying on his death-bed, the minister may set up the princes and other chiefs of the royal family against one another or against other chiefs. Whoever attacks the kingdom may be put to death under the plea of distorbance and annoyance to the people ; or having secretly punished the chief rebels of the royal family and brought them under his control, the minister shall himself take possession of the kingdom, for on account of the kingdom the father bates his sons, and sons their father ; why then should the minister who is the sole prop of the kingdom (be an exception to it)? Therefore he shall never discard what has, of its own accord, fallen into his hands; for it is a general talk among the people that a woman making love of her own accord will, when discarded, curse the man.
"Anis opportunity will only once offer itself to a man who is waiting for it, and will not come a second time when he may be desirous of accomplishing his work. 13"
" But it is," says Kautilya, "unrighteous to do an act which excites popular fury; nor is it an accepted rale. He shall, therefore, install over in the kingdom such a son of the king as is possessed of amiable qualities. In the absence of a prince of good character, he may place before himself & wicked prince, or a princess, or the pregnant queen, and tell the other ministers :- This is your cast (kshepa); look to the father of this (boy) as well as to your own valour and descent; this (boy) is merely a flag; and yourselves are the lords ; pray, how shall I act'?"
As he is saying this, others, taken in confidence before, shall say in reply: " Who else than the one of your lead is capable of protecting the mass of the people of the four castes of the king" ? Then the other ministers will certainly agree to it. Accordingly he shall install a prince, & princess, or the pregnant queen, and shew him or her to all the royal relations as well as to the
11 Chapter I, Book V.
11 The words "Kautilya" and Chanikya' are also spult as Kautalya,' and 'Chapakya.' derived as they are from kulala or lutila, and chanaka.
15 In Sloka metre.
